Heritage Suites Hotel, Siem Reap, quietly oozes with ‘history’
Complex of bungalows and suites tucked away from the hustle and bustle of the city tips its hat to colonial Cambodian style
WHAT IS IT? A mainly French-owned collection of 20 bungalow suites and six rooms close to the centre of town, but far enough away from raucous Pub Street and the traffic-jammed downtown to feel like a retreat. It’s de rigueur for stylish Southeast Asian hotels to have a vintage motor or two parked outside and Heritage Suites doesn’t disappoint, a pair of 1960s Mercedes, which belong to a Khmer shareholder, in the car park, waiting to collect or deliver guests from/to the airport.
WHAT’S INSIDE? Behind the reception desk is a large restaurant/bar area held aloft by wooden pillars from a pagoda, all that is old in the colonial-looking main building, which dates back only to 2006 (the name comes from Heritage Road, off which the hotel stands). Out back, beyond the saltwater outdoor pool (nice touch: straw hats alongside towels on the sun loungers) are the suites.
OH YES, PLEASE TELL US ABOUT THOSE. Named after flowers – ours was Peony – the open-plan, semi-detached, two-room bungalows are generously sized and each boasts a free-standing tub in a sunken area at the foot of the bed, a garden with outdoor shower and a steam room. Upon entering, you may notice (to either your delight or dismay) that there is no television – but you can order in a flat screen with DVD player, if you must.
